Braden head and pipe hanger



BRADEN HEAD AND PIPE HANGER Filed June 10, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 1 TIE J IS. ABERGROMB] E INVENTO B gum (3.0!

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March 19, 1940. r J. 5. AB ERCROMBIE 2,194,265

v BRADEN HEAD AND PIPE'HANGER I Filed June 10, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2JTSABERCROMBIE I EN OR.

Mam]! 194% J. s. ABERCROMBIE I 2,194,255

' BRADEN HEAD AND PIPE HANGER Filed June 10, 1938 I 3 Shee tsSheet .5115-21- /5Z I HM w fi i 55 4 6 q "43 h J 41"" 47 45 A l0 4 [J "55 L I w3'8 ABERCROMBIE ATTORNEYS.

' slips will be received in a Patented Mar. 19, 1940 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

I 2,194,265 BRADEN HEAD AND PIPE HANGER James S. Abercrombie, Houston,Tex. Application June 10, 1938, Serial No. 212,876

9 Claims. (01. 166-14) The invention relates to an improvement incombination Braden head and pipe hanger device for well heads wherein a.string of pipe is to be suspended in the well bore in the Braden headafter the Braden head has been positioned on the well.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a casing or Bradenhead in combination with a pipe hanger wherein the pipe may be arrangedto be suspended at a desired elevation .and sealed in position in thecasing head without having to cut and thread the string of pipe in orderto support it by a tubing hanger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tubing hanger for wellheads which may be expanded and moved into sealing position uponapplication of the weight of the string of tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tubing hanger whereinthe tubing is hung by clamping a set of slips about the tubing, whichtubing hanger to expand and hold the hanger in sealing position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe hanger which may bedropped through the well head fitting on to its seat and thereafterexpanded by the weight of the string of tubing supported thereon to forma seal with the casing head.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tubing hanger which willexpand to provide a seal when a predetermined load is placed there-Still another object of the invention is to provide a tubing hangerwhich may be connected to the pipe to hang it at any desired elevationand which may be thereafter clamped in position.

Qther and further objects of the invention will be readilyapparent whenthe'following description is considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l. is a vertical sectional view with the packingassembly and tubinghanger in position in the casing head and with the tubing and slipsabout to be lowered into position to set the hanger. I

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. l but with the pipeand slips supported in the tubing hanger which has been set in sealingposition.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view with a bonnet clamping the severalparts in secured position to support and lock the tubing in place.

In Fig. 1 the well casing is indicated generally at 2 and this casing issurmounted by the casing or Braden head 3 which may have the flowopenings 4 therein if desired. This head 3 has a passage 5 therethroughand it is through this passage that the drilling and other operationshave been performed. This internal passage is provided with a shoulder 6and a cylindrical area 5 1 above which merges with a second shoulder andseat 8, which in turn extends upwardly to provide a second cylindricalarea or seat 9. A flange l0 carries the bolts II by which the blowoutpreventer or other well head fitting I3 is 10 connected to the casinghead. A seal ring I! may fit into cooperating grooves in the casing headand fitting IS. The parts just described are those on a well during thedrilling operations.

When the drilling operation is completed or the well is to be produced astring of pipe or tubing i5 is lowered into the well bore. The wellbottom assembly is usually carried by this string of tubing and afterthe well has been 20 washed and is ready to produce, this string oftubing I5 must be set at the desired elevation.

It is often impossible to determine the exact elevation at which thistubing is to be suspended in the well bore and it is only after the wellis 25 ready to produce that the exact elevation is known. Often duringthe washing operation this string of tubing is raised and lowered andwhen the packer on the well bottom assembly is set it is not unusual touse this string of tubing 3 I5 as the setting string. This is generallyknown in the fields as a tubing setting of the well. When the elevationhas been determined, it is then necessary to so arrange the packing [5that it can be supported in the casing or Braden- 35 head 3 at thiselevation.

The practices now prevalent in the field are to raise the tubing l5after the desired elevation has been determined and cut off the pipe atthat elevation, thread the end thereof and then thread 4 a suitabletubing hanger on to this upper end so that the hanger may be suspendedin the casing head 3. Such operations as cutting and threading the pieceof pipe are objectionable, first because after the well has been washedand 45 the packer on the well bottom set the static head of the columnof liquid in the well may not create a sufficientback pressure on theformation to prevent a blowout because the heavy drilling mud has beenreplaced by water. The 50 period when the tubing is being set or hung istherefore the most dangerous period in completing awell. The saving of afew minutes time at this period is very essential so with this in mindthe assembly shown in the drawings has been devised and includes asealing unit 20 which is shown in section in Fig. 3 as being made up ofa bottom ring 2|, a set of packing rings 22 thereon, and expander ring23 mounted on the packing 22.

A seal ringof resilient material mounted on the expander ring 23 andshaped with a cooperating" face to cooperate with the apex 25 on theexpander ring. A hold-down ring 26 surmounts the seal ring 24 and asecond set of packer rings 27 are in turn mounted upon the hold-downring 26. If desired through rods 28 may hold these parts in assembledposition. All of the rings 2|, 22, 23. 24, 26 and 21 are split so thatthey may be passed around the pipe l5 and assembled as shown. The splitportions of each ring will be staggered with respect to the nextadjacent ring so that a seal will be provided with the cylindricalsurface 1 of the casing head 3.

When this packing unit has been assembled about the pipe IE it can heslipped downwardly along the pipe through the well head fitting l3 andinto the cylindrical area I of the casing head.

A clamping unit will next be assembled about the pipe I5 and droppedinto position in the casing head. This unit is shown in elevation inFigs. 1 and 2 and is made up of the two half sections 30 and 3|. Thesesections have cylindrical outer surfaces 32 which are arranged to fitthe cylindrical bore 9 of the casing head 3. When they are assembledabout the pipe l5, however, they will be drawn together by a pull-upscrew or bolt 33. one of which is provided on each side between the twohalves 30 and 3|. These bolts are inserted through the lateral holes 34and the parts will be guided in their movement by the dowel pins 35which interfit in suitable openings in each of the halves. When thepull-up screw 33 is fixed in place. this clamping unit will be of lessdiameter than the bore 9 so that it may be dropped through the well headfitting I3 into the casing head 3 and will lean upon the top packingring 21. The packing unit 20 will normally be of such proportion thatthe shoulder on the clamping unit will be spaced above the shoulder 8 inthe casing head. The parts will then be in the position shown in Fig. 1.I

The pipe I5 is now raised and a set of slips 42 comprising two or moreindividual jaws 43 will be clamped about the pipe by means of throughbolts or screws 44 which are similar to the screws 33. Dowel pins 45will guide the movement of the parts. These slips will be clamped aboutthe pipe inthis manner. The pipe may now be lowered through the fitting|3 so that the tapered periphery 46 of the slips will fit into thetapered bowl 41 in the inside of the clamping unit. When the weight ofthe tubing is transmitted through the slips to this bowl 41, there willbe a lateral thrust which is only resisted by the bolts or screws 33because, as noted in Fig. 1, this clamping unit does not fit snuglywithin the cylindrical area 3. It is intended that the weight of thetubing will shear the screws or bolts 33 so that the halves 3|! and 3|may move laterally to engage the bore 3. The weight of the tubing willalso cause a downward movement of the clamping unit to compress thepacking unit 20 so that the seal ring 24 thereof will be expanded toform a seal with the bore I. In this manner the pipe I5 will besupported at the desired elevation. The packing unitwvill be compressedto form a seal and the clamping unit will securely hold this seal inposition, due to the weight of the string of tubing and also due to thefrictional contact of the sur-- face 32 with ,the bore 3. The well headfitting I3 and other devices above the casing head 3 may now be removed.The pipe is securely anchored and if the upper end thereof is not at thedesired elevation, the pipe may be readily cut of! so that the upper end50 will extend slightly above the casing head 3. A bonnet or otherfitting 5| may now be attached to the flange ||l by the bolts H and itis usual to have this bonnet 5| in the form 01. a swagged nipple whichreduces the size of the well bore to a smaller passage 52 andconsequently a smaller flange 53 on the upper end of the nipple so'thatthe permanent valves and Christmas tree fittings may be of a smallersize and less expensive than the larger drilling fitting such as |3which had previously been upon the well head.

The lower face of the bonnet 5| is recessed at 55 to receive a set ofpacking or sealing rings 58 which may be deposited on the upper surfaceof the slip jaws 42 and 43. -When the bonnet 5| is clamped in positionby the bolts this pressure will force-the tubing downwardly a slightamount to further expand the clamping unit and compress the packingunit. The shoulder 4 abutting against the shoulder 8, however, limitsthe downward movement of the pipe and the clamping unit so that anexcessive pressure may not be aplied to the packing unit. The shoulders8 and 40 may come into engagement where there is a long heavy string oftubing, such as I5, supported upon the construction.

Broadly the invention contemplates a casing head and tubing hangerassembly which can be readily applied to the tubing to suspend it at thedesired elevation and to seal and clamp it in position.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination casing and tubing head including a body, spacedshoulders in said body, a packing unit disposed on the lower shoulder, aclamping unit disposed on said first unit and above the upper of saidshoulders, a bowl in said clamping unit, frangible members holding saidclamping unit together, a tubing extending through said head, and meansto be affixed to said tubing and to be lowered thereby into said bowl,and additional means to force said first means into said bowl tocompress said clamping unit against said packing unit and to break saidmembers and effect expansion of said clamping unit against said head.

2. A well head including a body, a packing unit supported therein, atubing extending through said head, a clamping unit assembled about saidtubing and movable into said head to seat on said packing unit, andmeans afllxed to said tubing to move against said clamping unit toutilize the weight of the tubing tocompress said packing unit and tothen expand said clamping unit into frictional engagement with saidhead. i

3. A well head including a body, a packing unit supported therein, atubing extending through said head, a clamping unit assembled about saidtubing and movable into said head to seat on said packing unit, andmeans afilxed to said tubing to move against said clamping unit toutilize the weight of the tubing to compress said packing unit, andmeans on said unit to release under such pressure to expand saidclamping unit into frictional engagement with said head whereby thefittings above said head may be removed.

4. A well head including a body, a packing unit supported therein, atubing extending through said head, a clamping unit assembled about saidtubing and movable into said head to seat on 4 I 104,205- ,said packingunit, and means afl xedto said tubing to move against said clamping,unit to utilize the' weight of the-tubing to compresssaid compressedpacking unitcand to expandsaid' clamping unit into frictional'engagementwith said head, and additional means to beaflixed on said head to"anchor said first means and tubing in position.

5. Awell tubing a set of slips afllxed thereon,

a sectionalunit toreceive said' slips, a well head.

to receive said unit, andfragible means holding the sections of saidunit together but adapted to be sheared by the weight of the tubingapplied by said slips so that saidunit will expand radially as to beinserted into the well head, said and held I ralit'y of sections to makeup a circumferential hanger, and shear means connecting said sectionstogether so that said unit may be positioned 3 g l. combination with awell head and tubing hanger, a hangerunit, said unit including a pluinsaid head but adapted to be sheared to allow radial-movement of saidsections.

8. A tubing hanger and clamping unit includ inga plurality of sections,pull up screws to. connect said sections together topro'vide a circular.hanger, said screws being frangible to release said sections when thewei ht of the tubing is hun 'iof thereon so that said auctions may moveradially outward in a support. 9. A hanger for well-heads including apair of substantially semi-circular members, means to hold said memberstogether forming a circle so holdin means being frangible when the loadis-applied to the hanger so that 'said members may separate and moveradially outward to engage the well head,- V

JAMES. S. ABEBCROM'BIE

